Retobulbar Hemorrhage after Blephorplasty

I’m sorry this happened to you. I’ve had a blepharoplasty (upper and lower) and then years later ptosis repair with another blepharoplasty (upper only) with no complications. I can only imagine your disappointment. How is the pain? Will the swelling subside soon? Does your doctor expect to be able to complete the repair later? Is this a ophthalmologist plastic surgeon?

I hope you’re feeling better soon!

Thank you for your response. It was an Oculoplastic Opthalmologist that came recommended by other plastic and opthalmologist surgeons. This was the first time it had happened to the surgeon after 16 years of practice. I am still trying to find the reason it happened as I am a retired health care professional and finding answers is important to me. I have no pain, and the quick intervention by the surgeon saved my vision in my eye from being destroyed by the hemorrhage, so I am grateful I have vision out of that eye, but my lid is now closed and droopy, so I essentioally have no vision in that eye cuz the lid is closed always. I go back for my two week this Wednesday, but I have been told by the surgeon it could take as long as 9 months, and then no guarantees that is will look "normal". A further repair remains to be seen cuz to relieve the pressure on the eye, there were tendons and muscles cut. It depends on how they heal and how much scar tissue is present. It was a true intraop emergency and was treated appropiately, I just look awful. I waited 15 years for this after mulling it over that long. Now, I wish I had my "old eyes" back. See before and after below. I am disfugred. Again, thank you

I can understand your feelings. Not having that vision in 1 eye would be incredibly frustrating too. But, there is healing taking place. Hopefully, things will heal in a way that will allow for correction. I know it’s challenging, but I would try to focus on things working out. I sincerely hope they do. Will u post your progress? Have you found anyone else who has had this happen before?

Thank you so much for your response. I am grateful. You are right, healing has to take place. I wish I had more patience. I have my 2 week appointment today and a list of questions, including if I should be referred somewhere else. This is such a rare complication from the surgical point of view. Practically unheard of! I have not found anyone else who has had this complication. That is one of the reasons I posted here because there is virtually no other case study that I could find that was recent. Real world experience of someone else would be helpful! I will post my progress....it will be long. 9 months, I am told. Again, thank you for your response.

Maybe, you can find someone else who had this happen. I’ll look too. I would love to see your progress. I have 2 surgeries that I wanted to have this year that I haven’t scheduled yet. (Long story). One is a lower face lift and neck lift and the other a lipoma removal from my side.

@nettiemae
Hi - I’m incredibly sorry you are dealing with this complication. Did the surgeon ever provide a hypothesis as to why this complication occurred? I have read that high blood pressure or the use of blood thinners can increase risk. Were any of these present in your case. I ask as I have a lower bleph scheduled for May.
How is your healing going?
I hope you are well on your way to healing

@jenn7172 I do have HBP but it is and was under control. I was seen by a hematologist who thought perhaps it was all my supplements that contain vit E...Qunol, AREDS-2, Multi Vit. I have been advised to stop all that and a few other meds before subsequent surgery. I am not on blood thinners, nor have I ever been. It really is a mystery becaue all the above hematologist reasons are totally hypothetical. I am healing but will need another surgery to make my eyes as symmetrical as possible. I wish you the best in your eye surgery in May. This pic is my healing up till now. A lower bleph is a totally different procedure than an upper bleph. Hope yours goes well...which odds are it will. My risk was 0.05% and I was the unlucky on!Regards,

@nettiemae , wow, that’s a big difference from the August pic. How are you coping? I can’t pretend to know your situation as I didn’t experience a serious surgery complication, but I did have a revision surgery on my left upper lid after my second blepharoplasty. The lid was slightly off and bothered me. The surgeon agreed and did the revision. I was then satisfied.

What are your thoughts on what happened now?

I have to decide if I do the second surgery in August. Sometimes the enemy of "good" is "Better"!!! I could live my life out with a little droopy eyelid on the left, or have the surgery and pray for a better outcome. My surgeon (whom I think has always had my best interest at heart) believes strongly she can fix it, as did the second option I sought. My study of one (me) still scares me something else could happen. I am trying to decide. I go back in May for measurments and another appt to help me decide. Best Regards,

@nettiemae thank you so much for your reply. Very grateful to see you are healing well! I am a Registered Dietitian and agree that supplements can cause a higher risk of bleeding and should be DC 2 weeks prior to surgery. Same with herbal remedies for colds, etc. I had surgery in the past and the surgeon even recommended stopping drinking red wine for a few weeks prior to surgery
I really appreciate you sharing your experience and am truly pleased to see you are recovering. Your current photo looks like you are doing much better.